Well apparatus



15 used in a given hole,-

Paiented July 24, 192s.

UNITED STATES ,PATENT OFFICE'.

JoIIN T. PHIPPs, or HUNTINGTON PARK, CALIFORNIA, AssI Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.-

GNOR TO JOHN GRANT, F

-WELL AIIARATUS.

' alipueation inea october 1o, 1925. serial No. 61,sos;`

ciprocating bit is used, on theone hand, or

in rotary practice in which a rotating bit is used, on. the other hand. Forlnerly there was more or less Of'a clear distinctionbetween the two practices, holes being, drilled by either the standard or rotary method. In modern prac-ticeboth Amethods are Jfrequently the standard method beingemployed upon entering the sands, so 4that the same may be safely cased ofi vand a slower drilling carried forward when approaching the producing strata. Further- 2 0 more, the standard method is employed when hard' shells or strata are encountered, and which hard strata are extremely difiicult for "rotary drills to penetrate. f

`Therefore, in producing an underreamer` adapted for service 1n connection with either method of hole drilling,

tool of general utility in the conditions which are encountered, so that .the present invention may be 'said vto :i0 provide a general utility underreamer, obviating the necessity of providing rigs especially with 'underreamers designed ,only for use in the standard or rotary method of drilling.,

. Further 'particular objects of the invention have to do with the p-rovision of an underreamer 'in which the cutters are securely maintained "against, dropping or loss, Which'los'ses have been vvery prevalent in -genera'l'underreamer practice, often resulting in damaving the hole or at times necessitating its abandonment. Also, it i's the general object of theinvention to provide an improved underreamer which.will be genorally superior in efiiciency and serviceability and in which the use-of moving mandrel or spring-actuated rod for the cutters is eliminat'ed, in which a pilot or lleading body of unmutilated or lround or cylindrical formation may be employed ahead ofthe cutters, in which the cutters may be inserted from the upper end of the reamer body, in which the cutters may be effectively reta-ined`- during lowering of the underreamer to prevent digging into and mutilating the pipe and obvI have .provided a parts, members and features,

a rig under all of` structing the reamer in lowering, in which effective circulation may be effected throughout the underreamer, and in which all the parts may be so combined and associated as to make for length of life, durability and lgeneral .reliability and effectiveness in use and service, combined with relative inexpensiveness and simplicity in construction.

IVith the aboveand other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, combinat-ion, association and inter-relation of all as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing, and finally pointed out in claims.

In the drawing:

' Figure 1 is an axial vertical sectional view, partly in' elevation, of anunderreamer constructed to embody the lnvention, parts being broken away for clearness of illustration, one of the cutters o-r bits being shown in expanded position;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional'view similar to Figure 1 showing the bits or cutters in` collapsed condition Figure 3 is an enlarged detail transverse sectional view taken upon the line 3.-3, Figure 1, 'and looking in the direction of the appended arrows;

Figure 4 is a similar view taken upon the line lf-4, Fig. 2,`and looking in the direction of the appended arrows; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail side face view of one of the bits or cutters shown in the other figures, the same being in detached position.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the same'reference characters.

lReferring with particularity tothe drawing, A designates the tubular elongated body of the underreamer, within which is provided a fixed mandrel B, which is an elongationV or downward extension of a joint member or sub C, the latter having the usual tapered end coarse-threaded pin 6 at its upper end for connection with the female member of a joint to connect the under reamer with rotary casing or with a string of tools, as the case may be in accordance with the practice to be followed.

I have shown the mandrel B as'provided with an upper portion 7 integral with the sub C and a lower portion 8 which'is detachable therefrom and is connected by threads therewith as at 9, such lower porses,A

tion 8 being tubular, and the upper portion lower portion 8 a continuous circulation passage from end to end of the underreamer to feed water to the passages 11c of bit 11b, the lower end vof the body A being shown as having a threaded socket 11 within which may be secured the threaded pin of a drilling bit, if desired, so that the operations of reaming and drilling may be carried von at the saine time by a single tool. D designates in each instance a bit or cutter associated with the tubular body A and the mandrel B and adapted to be projected outwardly for operative engagement Awith the hole formation, or to be contracted to permit the underreamer to be raised or lowered, as shown respectively in Figures 1 and 2. y

Surrounding the lower portion 8 of the mandrelA B is a coiled compression spring 12 which bears at its lower end' against a slioulder 13 within the 4tubular body, and above a counter-bore 14 within which the lower end 8*"L of the mandrel portion 8 is received and centered. At a pre-determined point above this shoulder 13 the tubular body A is bored out to enlarge the chamber therein, `producing an annular shoulder 15, and resting uponthe spring l2 yat or above said shoulder is a spider or propeller 16 having a plurality of radial arms or lugs 16, one for each of the bits or cutters D, three of which are shown in the drawing. The spring 12 urges the spider 16 in'an upward direction within the tubular body A,at all times exerting resilient pressure upon the cutters D and tending to urge them upwardly and outl wardly into expanded condition.` These cut- 40 ters consist each of an elongated body 17 of generally at formation lengthwise, and each rounded off at the upper outer corner, as at 17a and provided at the inner edge portion with a notched formation as at 17". The lower edge por-tion is tapered or reduced v to produce a cutting or working edge as at 17e, and at the inner bottom edge portion a downwardly projecting. foot or nose 17l is provided, the same being slightly rounded at its outer side edge, as at 17e. The inner edge portion of each body 17 is also provided at each side of the body with a laterally projecting narrow rib or flange 17f, both above and below the notched portion 17". The mandrel portion 7 is reduced in diam-' eter in two portions, as at 7 n and 7 b, directly above which such mandrel portion tapers upwardly and outwardly .to the full diametriealformation, as at 7 c. These reduced portions receive the inner edgeportions and ribs 17t thereon, -which constitiitel wings or lugs, when the cutters are in collapsed condition, and the inner facesjof such inner edge portions 17f or wings or lugs are curved in a concavity, as at 17 g, to permit a close col- `stantially the same Zone of the reamer, so

that part of the oirculationfluid'may pass outwardly through the holes 19,-within the tubular casing A,and thenceoutwardly and downwardly through the holes 20, finding its way downwardly outside of the body A tol cooperate with the remaining portion of the fluid which passes directly downwardly,85 through the circulation passage 10, and out atv the bottom of the tool through the, socketed lower end 11 thereof.

The body A is provided with three equidistant elongated slots 21 in which are ae- '90 eommodated the respective cutters orbits D, the ribs 17r on said bits'being adapted to play within the bore of the body and constituting retaining means for the cutters, or means opposing out-thrust thereof. The cutters have a loose working fit Within such slots, permitting them to freely traverse the slots in expansion and collapsion. These slots extend downwardly below the inwardly tapering annular shoulder 15, as shown at 21, and are tapered beneath said shoulders, terminating in downwardly and outwardly inclined slots 2lb. When the cutters are in expanded condition they abut at their inner top portions against a collar 22 which is 105 threaded onto the upper portion 7 of the mandrel B, as at 28, and has a slip joint fitting within the upper portion of the bore of the body A. Then the cutters are col-- lapsed they swing inwardly at their lower end portions, so that the feetor noses 17d ride over the downwardly and inwardly inclinedshoulder 15, this action taking place due to the weight of the cutters. This retracts the lower end portions of the cutters. The rounded upper outer corners 17a of the cuttcrs'engage with the shoe at the lower end of thecasing, and the cutters are thus held stationarv while the body of the underreamer is further elevated. The cutters are thus forced inwardly and the travel of the noses 17d over the shoulder 15, as above mentioned,` is produced. the cutters finally coming into the collapsed positions indicated in Figures 2 and 4; As the cutters move 125 downwardly the wingsv at the inner edges including the ribs l7f, and constituting retaining means, move downwardly over the larger portions of the mandrel portion 7, over the inclined faces 7, and into the 'annular spaces Izzo CTI ` casing prevents the surrounding the reduced portions 7 and 7", which 'accommodate ysuch cutter wings \in 'collapsed positions. At' the same time the radial arms or lugs 16, which, when, the cutters are expanded, are positioned above the annular shoulder 15, are received in the portions 212L ofthe slots 21, as shown in Fig 2, -p

the coil spring 12 of course being put under increase compression at the same time. As the underreamer is drawn upwardly in the casing the pressure ot the outer edges of the cutters against the inner walls of the cutters from moving upwardly in the slots 21,'and-thus prevents mandrel and caused to 'expand and collapse- I `means on the cutters,

the `beveled faces them from expanding. lVhen the bitshave passed either above or below the casing, they of course expand, under pressure of the spring 12, the feet 17d riding upwardly out` A ot thebody bore below shoulder 15, just beneath .which they have b een received in collapsed condition, and riding outwardly over such inclined shoulder, the expanding action being aided by the upper edges 24: of the wings or retaining which cooperate with 7d upon the mandrel.` One or both of these faces may be beveled oior inclined, the' lower one being shown so formed in Fig. 5. The retaining means or wings then ride upwardly onto the 'full diameter portions of the mandrel B, the -cut-l ters being then maintained in expanded condition, with the retaining means in engage ment with the inner,walls of the body A at the sides of the slots. The inthrust of the Jcutters in action is .taken up by the mandrel,

and any outtlirust is take-n up by the body pan'ding and collapsing the feet 17d ride over the lugs 16a, over which they freely slip, being outwardly and downwardly inclined.

It will be noted that the cutters are the only moving parts of thefunderreamer, the mandrel being entirely stationary, whiclris a clear distinction from the prior art in which, in standard practice, the cutters are connected with aI spring-actuated rod or in the movement of such part.v In the present-reamer, likewise, in marked distinction from prior practice, the cutters are introduced into positions at the top of the body, beingslipped into placeprior tothe introduction ot` the mandrel. The cutters are therefore positively retained in place, after the mandrel hasbeen installed, it being impossible to lose the same, as they are confined to working zones by the mandrel and the walls of the tubular body. This constitutes a marked distinction from prior practice, vwhere the cutters, it inadvertently freed or loosened from the spring-actuated rod, frequently become lost. in tlie well hole, causing often excessivedam'age and at times abandonment Vof the hole.

the annular inclined' 'point above said collar.

ly ,takes place in A at the `sides of the slots 21. In eX- Furthermore, the stock of the body is not diminished in thickness beneath the cutters, asis often the case in general practice, and in fact the stock is thicker beneath the shoulder 15 than it is above it, and the body re- 70 tains its true cylindrical formation uniniaired in strength. The lugs or wings 163L are slightly beveled off or inclined downwardly and outwardly to relieve the expanding and collapsing actions. It will -further be noticed that the fixed mandrel accommo dates the fluid circulation from one end thereof to the other, andthe hole 2O in the body accommodates circulation outside of the bodyl When the cutters are collapsed the cutting edges and corners thereof', at 17c are so held as not to dig into the casing, the upper reducedy portion 7a of the mandrel portion 7 being of slightly greater diameter than the lower-reduced portion. 7b, so that the cutters are permitted to tilt in slightly at their lower ends. The invention also provides in the collar 2,2 means beneath the holes 19 for limiting the circulation outwardly'through the hole or holes 20 to a Likewise, the eutters are entirely loose and free in the body and without any direct connection with lany `aetuatingpart so that, the reamer is readily assembled and taken apart, and there are 96 no eyes in the cutters for'rcceiving actuating means, at which eyes breakages frequentother types of cutters.

It will be noted that the mandrel B and its lower or extension portion 8 are sus- 100 pended from the upper end.y In case the mandrel should break at or below the point of suspension Ait-willstill be. supported in operative position as the lower end of 8 reaches substantially to the upper end of the bit pin 11l and will rest on that pin in case`the mandrel breaks and'tends to drop. And, as the mandrel is laterally-confined by the cutters and `the body, it cannot move out of operative position even though a A11(- break'oecurs. j

The operation and method ofuse ot the underreainer will be plain from the. foregoing description, takenin connection with the accompanying drawing.

-I do not desire to be understood as limiting the invention to any of the particular details, parts and features disclosed, other than in a fair and proper interpretation ot a slotted body, a mandrel therein having a reduced `portio`n intermediate its ends, and' vthe combination'of a' slotted body, a stationary mandrel having a reduced portion ntermediate. its ends, cutters loosely mounted in said body and limited thereby against outward displacement through said slots; each cutter having a recess with the lower end 1 of said reducedportion and above the larger`-l| I tol tapered and provided with means to limit downward travel, said tapered end assisting in expansion of the cutters.

3. An expansible underreamer comprising the combination of a body, a xed mandrel in the body, cutters in said body, each cutter having a lateral projection cooperating with said mandrel, said mandrel having a reduced portion for accommodating said lateral projection when-the cutter is collapsed there being an inclined face between said reduced portion and the larger portion of the mandrel above the reduced portion and a square shoulder at the bottom portion of the mandrel, said square shoulder limiting downward action of the cutter,

the inclined face assisting expansion of said cutters.

4. An underreamer comprising a tubular body, with alongitudinally slotted wall, the wall slot being narrower than theinterior diameter of the body at the slot, a cutter mounted, in the slot to move longitudinally therein and also to` move in and out through the slot, the cutter having a shoulder wing at its inner edge adapted to bear outwardly against the inner surface of the body wall .adjacent the slot, a stationary mandrel within the body, the mandrel having a part spaced from the body wall and against which the winged edge of the cutter bears inwardly when the cutter is inits outer position, and means to move the cutter longitudinally in the body slot and longitudinally of the mandrel. j

5. lAn undcri'eamer comprising a cylin'dric tubular body with a longitudinally slotted wall, the wall slots being narrower than the interior diameter of the body, cutters mounted in the slots to move longitudinally therein and also to move in and out through the slots, the cutters having shoulder wings at their inner edges adapted to bear outwardly against the inner surface of the body wall adjacent the slots, a stationary cylindric mandrel within the body having relatively therein and also t0 move in and out through' the slot, the cutter having a shoulder wing at its inner edge adapted to bear outwardly against the inner surface of the body wall adjacent the slot, a stationary mandrel within the body,I the mandrel having a part spaced from the body wall and against which the winged edge of the cutter bears inwardly when the cutter is'in its outer position, and means to move the cutter lon gitudinally .in the body slot and longitudinally of the mandrel, said means embodying a spring surrounding' the mandrel and .housed within the body in thespace between it andthe mandrel.

7. An underreamercomprising a cylindric tubular body with a longitudinally slotted Wall, the wall slots beingc narrower than the interior diameter of the body, cutters' mounted in the slots to move longitudinally therein-and also to move in and out through the slots, the cutters having shoulder wings at their inner\edges adapted to bear outwardly against the inner surface of the body wall adjacent. the slots, a stationary cylindric mandrel within the body having relatively enlarged and reduced parts with which the inner edge of the cutters are adapted lSelectively to engage by virtue of longitudinal "niovement, the enlarged mandrel parts being spaced from the body wall to accoinmodate the cutter wings between the mandrel and wall,"and means to move the ,cutters longitudinally, said means embodying, a spring surrounding the mandrel4 and housed within the body in the space between it and the mandrel.

8. Aniunderreamer comprising a tubular body with a slotted wall, a cutter adapted to move in and' out through the wall slot, a mandrel suspended from its upper end with# in the body, the mandrel forming an inner abutment against which the cutter bears inwardly and the cutter and mandrel being so foimedthat relative longitudinal movement. between them in one'direction causes out- `ward movement of the cutter, and means to cause said relative longitudinal"movement including-a member surrounding the said mandrel and movable longitudinally thereon. 9. An underreamer comprising a tubular body with a slotted wall, a cutter adapted to Amove inland out through the wall slot, a mandrel within the body, the. mandrel forming an inner abutment against ,which the cutter bears inwardly and the cutter and mandrel being so formed that relative longitudinal movement between them in one direction causes outward movement of the cutter, andmeans to cause said relative longitudinal movement including a spring surrounding the said mandrel.` "t

10. An underreamer comprising a tubular I body with a longitudinally slotted wall, a

cutter causes its outward movement, and

means to cause such longitudinal movement including -a-member surrounding the said mandrel and engaging the cutter. i

11. An underreamer comprising a tubular -body with a` longitudinally slotted wall, a

cutter adapted to move in and out through `the wall slot and to move longitudinally in the wall slot, a stationary longitudinal mandrel within .the body, the mandrel forming 'an'inner abutment against which the cutter bears inwardly and the cutter and mandrel being so formed that longitudinal movement of the cutter causesits outward movement, and means to cause suchlongitudinal movement including a cutter actuating spring surrounding the said mandrel.

12. An-underreamer comprising a tubular 5 body with a slotted wall, a cutter adapted nin to move in and out through the wall slot, a mandrel within the body, the'mandrel forming an inner abutment against which the cutter bears inwardly and thecutter and mandrel being so formed that relative longitudinal movement between them in one direction causes outward movement of the cutter, means to cause said relative longitudinal movement includinga member surrounding thewsaid mandrel` and the said mandrel having a longitudinal bore through it forminga water course. 13. An underreamer comprising a tubular body with a longitudinally slotted wall, a cutter adapted to move in and out through the wall slot and to move longitudinally in the wall slot, a stationary longitudinal mandrel within the body, the mandrel forming an inner abutment against which the cutter bears inwardly and the cutter and mandrel being so formed that longitudinal movement of the cutter causes its outward movement,`

body, mounted in the body at its upper and lower ends, and having a water course longitudinally through it, the lower end of the water course communicating with said box. the mandrel being spaced from the body wall, cutters carried in the body surround ing the said mandrel and having inward bearings against the mandrel, and a cutterV actuating spring surrounding the said man` drel within the body.

15. In anY underreamer, a tubular body` with a slotted wall, a longitudinal mandrel within the body and having relatively large and small parts, the surface ofthe larger part being spaced from the body wall and substantially parallel to it, a cutter in the wall slot having a wing fitting in the space between .the wall and the large part of the mandrel, and means to causerelative longitudinal movement between-the cutter and mandrel. I

16. In an underreamer, a tubularl body rwith a longitudinally slotted wall, a stationary longitudinal mandrel within the body and having relatively large and small parts, the surface of the larger part being spaced from the body wall and substantially parallel to it, a` cutter movable along and in and o ut through the wall slot and having a wing fitting in the space between the wall andthe large mandrel part, and means to move the cutter longitudinally.

17. In an underreamer, the combination of a cutter and a cutter supporting mandrel,

both cutter and mandrel having twolongitudinally spaced laterally projecting parts with a recess between, the cutter and mandrel being relatively movablelongitudinally and the two projecting parts of the cutter engaging the two projecting parts of the mandrel in vone relative position of the cutter. Y

18. In an underreamer, a cutter spreading mandrel having a relatively large part at one point in its length and a relatively smaller part at another point in its length, a cutter, a cutter holding body associated with the mandrel and adapted to hold the cutter back against the large part of themandrel while allowing longitudinal movement of the cutter along the mandrel, and cutter actuating means comprising a propeller and a spring mounted around the smaller part of the said mandrelA and spaced longitudinally from thel larger part of the mandrel.

19. In an underreamer, a cutter spreading mandrel having a relatively large part at one point in its length and a vrelatively smaller part at another point in its length, a

ses

cutter, a cutter holdi'ng body associated with the mandrel and adapted to hold the cutter y `from the larger part of the mandrel, the

mandrel having a longitudinal water course through it.

20. An eXpansible underream'er, comprising a mandrel withtwo longitudinally )spaced reduced portions,'a cut-ter having two longitudinally spaced lateral projections and ada ted to be moved longitudinally relatively to t e mandrel, said lateral proj ec tions, in one longitudinal position of the cutter, being adapted-to rest in the reduced portions of the mandrel, and in another longitudinal position to rest against the mandrel beyond opposite ends of a reduced portion.

21. An underreamer comprising an elongate abutment mandrel, cutters movable lengthwise relative to the mandrel, the cutters being spaced around the mandrel and bearing inwardly against it for support against inward stresses and the mandrel and cutters being so formed thatrelative longitudinal movement between lthem causes outward movement of the cutters` means for confining the cutters against said mandrel, and cutter actuating means including a spring surrounding the said abutment mandrel.

22. An underreamer comprising an elongateabutment mandrel, cutters movable lengthwise relative to the mandrel, the cutters being spaced around the mandrel and bearing inwardly against it for support against inward stresses and the mandrel and cutters being so formed that relativey longitudinal movement betweenthem causes outward movement of the cuttersf'means for confining the cutters against said mandrel, and cutter actuating means including a member surrounding the said abutment mandrel and movable lengthwise thereon. l 23. In a reamer, the combination of a hol-v low body, a stationary mandrel suspended in fixed position in the hollow body, a downward mandrel extension extending substantially to the lower end of thebody interior and adapted to support the mandrel from below in event of its suspension-breaking, cutters confined by the body. against the mandrel, the mandrel being confined laterally by the body and cutters.

24. In a reamer, the combination of a hollow body adapted to take a drill bit at its lower end, a drill bit with a circulation passage connected to the lower end. of the holn low body, a stationary mandrel suspended. in ixed position in the hollow body and having a downward Aextension whose end substantially rests on the drill bit', the mandrel and extension having a circulation passage vertically therethrough communicating directly with t-he passage of the bit, cutters confined by the body against and around the mandrel, the mandrel being confined laterally by the body and cutters, and cutters carried by the body and confined thereby laterally around and againsty said mandrel.

25. In a reamer, the combination of a hollow body, a stationary mandrel suspended in fixed'position in the hollow body, a downward mandrel extension extending substantially to the lower end of the body interior and adaptedto support the mandrel trom below in event'f its suspension breaking, the lower end of the mandrel being later'- ally confined in a lowerpart of the body whichlower part presents an upwardly facing shoulder around the mandrel, cut-ters confined by the body against and around the upper part of the mandrel, said upper part being confined laterally by the body and cutters, and a cutter actuating spring surrounding the mandrel and resting upon said shoulder.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN T. PHIPPS.

ondermeer@ or @embodied Patented. remoto. Granted July 24, {928,10

meer ir. PHIPPS.

k.it is hereby eerted that error appears ie the printed specification of the A above numbered patent requiring eorrectiofa as iellews: Page.6,- lines 73 to 75,

'claim 24, strike out the el'ase "and cutters carried by the body land confined thereby laterali@v aromd and against said mandrel" and insert instead "cutters conined by the body against and around the mandrel, the mandrel being comined laterally by the body and eutters."; and the said Letters latent should be read with thieorreetioe tiierein'tlxat the samemay conform to the' record of the caser in the Patent fiice. i

Signed and sealed this 23rd dayof Gctober, A. D. 1928.

M.l J. Moore, (Seal) Acting ACommissioner of Pateritb. 

